Siargao Island enjoys increase of tourist arrivals, says Gov. Barbers

The 15th Siargao International Surfing Cup dubbed as the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational 2009 successfully opened today, October 21, 2009 with 48 confirmed international cast of surfers and 12 local wildcards participated.

Speaking before a crowd of local and foreign tourists, Gov. Robert Ace Barbers proudly bared the increase of tourist arrivals in the island. “In this side of the town, of this island of Siargao, in the small town in the island of Mindanao called Gen. Luna we have been enjoying an increase of tourist arrivals, in fact, we have a lot of tourist coming from not just Europe, America, and Australia but likewise coming from Asia as well.”

Gov. Barbers acknowledged the efforts made by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, who was the event’s guest of honor, for bringing in a considerable number of local and foreign visitors not just in Siargao Island but throughout the country as well.

“With the Secretary of Department of Tourism around who has been every time marketing asking tourists to come, in fact, during his tenure as the Secretary of Tourism it was only during his time that we broke the record of more than 2 Million tourist arrivals in the country and with that it is because of all the efforts exerted by no less than our good secretary.”

“Our efforts to market this place would not have been possible as well if it were not with the full support of Dir. Letty Tan, your hardworking Regional Director for Tourism is the same as hardworking as the secretary,” Gov. Barbers added.

Meanwhile, Gov. Barbers acknowledged the support of Billabong, DOT and the local government unit of Gen. Luna who are behind the success of the event. “I would like take this opportunity to thanked and give credit where it is due. This competition would not have been possible if it were not for the 101% support of these people.”

He then urged everyone to take good care of these people for according to him, “kini sila are the ones responsible in making sure that everything turns out right, everything in the competition turns out successful and in addition to that, these are the same guys that brings tourist in this island in this town.”

Gov. Barbers is optimistic that with this competition, “it will not just give national prominence to this town, to this island of Siargao but likewise give international prominence to this country of the Philippines.” (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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